19/07/2024
Italian pasta salad is a versatile and customizable dish that is perfect for picnics, potlucks, or as a side dish for any meal. The beauty of this salad is that you can easily adjust the ingredients to suit your taste preferences and make it your own. Here is a more detailed and elaborate recipe for Italian pasta salad:
Ingredients:
- 1 pound pasta (such as rotini, penne, or fusilli)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup cucumber, diced
- 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup black olives, sliced
- 1/4 cup green olives, sliced
- 1/4 cup artichoke hearts, chopped
- 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
For the dressing:
- 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
1. Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process and cool the pasta down.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, black olives, green olives, artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, basil, and parsley.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, honey, dried oregano, salt, and pepper to make the dressing.
4. Pour the dressing over the pasta salad and toss until everything is well coated.
5. Add the grated Parmesan cheese and gently toss to combine.
6. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld together.
7. Before serving, give the salad a good stir and adjust seasoning if needed. You can also garnish with some extra fresh herbs and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.
8. Serve the Italian pasta salad chilled or at room